From left, Tohir Tillyaev, Sophia Mitchell and Tony DiPietro, the team that won Rochester Startup Weekend with an app that allows funeral homes to stream services for those who can't attend in person.

Written by

Leah Stacy

Benjamin Franklin famously wrote in 1789 that only two things were certain: death and taxes. These days, there's one more item that could be added to that short list: the digital identity, nearly unavoidable for anyone who has a mobile device or computer, let alone a telephone number, business or Social Security number.

And while previous generations never worried about saving usernames and passwords for online accounts or saying goodbye to a loved one through a screen, it's now reality for anyone living (and dying) in the 21st century.